Guidance & Counseling

The socio-emotional well-being and developmental progress of each child is an important part of Nido’s curriculum. Nido’s Early Years School Guidance and Counseling Team offers support in accordance with the four primary interventions prescribed by the American School Counselor Association: Counseling, Consultation, Large Group Guidance, and Coordination.

In the EYS, we focus primarily on observing and nurturing students through important stages of socio-emotional growth and development. Because early intervention is so important during these years, we consider social and emotional progress an important part of our standards-based assessment. In keeping with the standards outlined by the Collaborative for Social and Emotional Learning, we look for evidence of meeting well-defined developmental milestones in the areas of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. We work with parents, teachers, and outside specialists to address developmental concerns so that students can achieve their full potential. Socio-emotional health and cognitive and learning differences often are closely related, so students may be referred to Learning Support Services depending on the concerns raised.

For individual counseling cases, we use a Student Support Team model, coordinating with the student’s teachers, parents, any outside specialists he or she might have, and Nido’s Learning Support Team, when warranted. Students are referred to counseling services by teachers, and counselors participate in classroom and recess observations in addition to managing curriculum, programming, and individual cases. Parents are an active part of the Guidance and Counseling process and are welcome to make appointments to speak with team members about concerns, with suggestions, or for parenting support.

An important part of the EYS Guidance and Counseling curriculum is teaching students appropriate ways of expressing their feelings and emotional needs, and we work with students to give them the words to do so. Although counselors will facilitate resolution of any instances of relational conflict among students, the students begin the process of learning how to problem-solve challenging social situations individually, in small groups, and as a class. Students begin to learn what core values are important at Nido, such as adaptability, generosity, and happiness.

Monthly programming focusing on different traits relating to socio-emotional wellness, health, and safety is presented to the entire EYS and to individual classes, as are workshops for parents. Special support for international families and “third culture kids” is offered, and personal safety is a particular focus for our youngest students. Teachers, as the primary point of contact with the students, are provided with in-service training, specialized assistance, and supplemental materials that help them nurture and guide students in the classroom through the important process of socio-emotional maturation.